Hygienic vibrator



,1947. A. R. MARTY 2,413,879

' HYGIENIQ VIBRATOR' Filed May 1, 1944 Fi -L INVENTOR. Amos 1?, MARTY A TTOENEX Patented .E'an. 7, 1947 UNIT ED STATES PATENT OF F I C E I I 2,413,879- v I HYGIENIC VIBltAfIOR Amos R. Marty, Springfield, Ohio plica on May 1, .Sgia1' e- 33l55 3 Claims. '1

.moreparticularly to a. manual instrument for combined massage, light. and heat, therapy.

Among-the objects of the invention is to providecin asingle, compact device, means for electrically applying vibration, massage, infra-red heatfand lightsimultaneously or separately to living tissues.

Another objectisto protect the radiant element from the disruptive effects of the vibratory mechanism.

Another object is to provide a device of this character in compact form and especially adapted to the stimulation of the muscular, circulatory and nervous systems of the human body.

A further object is to apply infra-red heat and vibration without vibrating the heating element.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

In this specification and the accompanying drawing, the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. But it is to be understood that it is not limited to this form; because it may be embodied in modifications within the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims following the description.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a vibrator constructed in accordance with this invention, with the cover of the casing removed.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, on the line H! i.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same viewed from the front.

Fig. 4 is a similar view from the rear.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawing, referring first to Fig. 2, comprises the enclosing casing divided into two sections such as the base i and the cover 2, secured together by the screws 33. This casing is preferably composed of dielectric plastic material or the like and shapedto comfortably fit the hand.

The laminated iron core 4, is fixed to the-base I by the screws 5, 5, the electric wire 6 surrounds this center core to create a magnetic field. The armature l is held in vibratory proximity to the core by the flat spring 8. The bent end of this spring is fixed to the base by the screws 9, 9, and the armature is riveted to this spring at l0, l8. The free end of the spring is bent at an angle to form the head II, that extends across the width of the base and has the angular impact end l2. The opposed bumpers 13, I3 are mounted in the base and spaced from the plane of the spring 8 and the impact end [2, respectively, to limit '2 the vibratory path .of the spring. These bumpers can .be made adjustable to vary the rate of vibration of thearmature,

The trip-0d shape spider M is riveted or spotweldedto the head I! at l5 and vibrates therewith. The. massaging dielectric annulus i5 is fixedto the spider .IA, concentric withand spaced slightlyoutw'ard from the end of casing.

Thelstationaryheating assembly comprises the bracket. .l'l, that. isfixed tothe base I, by the screws l8, l8, between the lateral extensionsof the spider. The stationary ring 89 is fixed on the cross strut 2B, which in turn is spot-welded to the bracket 11. This ring is concentric with and in- 15 terspaced from the vibratory massaging annulus It. Both these members l6, 19 are preferably composed of plastics or the like havin relatively low heat and electric conductivity. Their exposed ends are co-planar for contact with the skin.

The ring I!) has an internal shoulder to confine the rim of the parabolic reflector 2!, interposed between this shoulder and the strut 2B. This reflector is preferably copper or gold plated, better to reflect infra-red heat rays. The electric heating element 22 is mounted in a dielectric base 23, which is fixed to the bracket I? and adapted to insulate the heating element from the metal parts of the apparatus.

Infra-red globes in which the heat generating element 22 is sealed in a vacuum are preferred for safety, see Fig. 2. But open elements, as in Fig. 3, have the same therapeutic value if the skin of the user is protected against burns.

The two pole electric control switch 22 is mounted on the base I inside the casing and has the thumb button 25 exposed on the outside of the case for manually operating the switch.

Power flows into the electric circuit over the wire 25, across the heating element 22, the switch 24 and back to the source over the wire 21. The wires 26, 2'! are enclosed within a flexible cord 20 adapted to be plugged into a power circuit in the conventional manner. The heating element 22 may be cut out by shifting the switch to the contact 23, leaving the coil l5 still active over the wire 29, for massage without heat. Shifting the switch to the contact 3i, cuts out the coil 6 and cuts in the heating element 22, for treatment by heat without vibration. For treatment with both heat and vibration the switch is shifted to close both contacts 28 and 3|.

1 This invention operates substantially as folows:

When the switch button 25 is moved to close the switch 24, a magnetic field is set up in the core 4, which attracts the armature 1 against the tension of the spring 8, which causes the end l2 to strike and rebound from the resilient bumper Hi. This rebound causes it to similarly react with the opposed bumper I 3'. These magnetic and mechanical effects in the armature 1 and the spring 8, set up a constant Vibration of the massaging annulus l6.

The heat generated in the heating element 22, is projected by the reflector 2| through the opening of the surrounding ring [9. When this ring is laid against the human skin the infra-red heat rays from the heating element 22 penetrate into the underlying tissues with a therapeutic effect on the blood stream. The massaging efiect of the vibratory annulus l6 promotes increased blood circulation within the areas being treated, effecting a more rapid circulation of the blood, absorption of heat and modification of the blood stream. These combined effects enable a greater application of heat to a larger area in a given time, and reduce the danger of burning the skin because it is thus agitated.

A transformer winding can be included within the coil 6 to step down the voltage from the usual 110 volt service to six volts, more or less, to-reduce the danger of shock to the patient or operator.

Having thus described this invention what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hygienic instrument comprising a casing; a stationary member fixed to and projecting from the end of said casing; an annular massaging member surrounding and spaced from said stationary member, with its outer edge substantially coplanal with the outer edge of said stationary member; and. vibratory means within said casing and connected to and vibrating said massaging member laterally to its own axis and relative to said stationary member,

2. A hygienic instrument comprising a casing; a vibratory means within said casing; a stationary ring fixed to and projecting from the end of said casing; a therapeutic element within said ring; an annular massaging member vibrated laterally to its own axis by said vibratory means and surrounding and spaced laterally from said stationary ring.

3. A hygienic instrument comprising a casing; a stationary ring fixed to and projecting from the end of said casing; a therapeutic element within said ring; an annular massaging member surrounding and spaced from said stationary ring with its outer edge substantially coplanal with the outer edge of said stationary ring; and vibratory means Within said casing for vibrating said massaging member laterally, relative to the axis of said ring.

AMOS R. MARTY. 

